GNB Weekend Update

The weekend has arrived...Here's the news...

The weakened economy has taken its toll on revenue collections in Georgia. The Associated Press reports that state revenue collections fell by almost 16 percent in June. That was from the same month in 2008. Those findings have led to calls from some lawmakers to hold a special legislative session to deal with the ongoing financial crisis. But aides for Governor Sonny Perdue say only the governor has to power to handle declining revenue without calling for a special session. Perdue has asked state agencies cut funding by three percent for July.

Commuters in Gwinnett County won't have to go in reverse come Monday. The Gwinnett Daily Post reports that crews with the Georgia Department of Transportation will remove the last of the reversible lanes on U.S. Highway 78 late Sunday night. They'll be replaced with a center turning lane, three westbound lanes, and two eastbound lanes. The DOT says the project is currently on track for completion by November 30.

A surprise trade sends one of the Atlanta Braves to the Big Apple. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the Braves traded popular outfielder Jeff Francoeur to the New York Mets in exchange for Ryan Church Friday. At the time of the trade, Francoeur was hitting .250 with five home runs and 35 runs batted in, the Associated Press reports.

That's the news. GNB is available online at georgianewsbeat.blogspot.com, and on Twitter at twitter.com/georgianewsbeat. Have a good weekend.